Water for food: A human rights perspective

Introduction The human right to water has been criticised for being biased towards urban areas due to its focus on water for personal and domestic uses. It has been pointed out correctly that people living in rural and peri-urban areas often require water not only to satisfy their personal and domestic needs, but also for other uses relating to livelihood security, such as food production and income generation. A sustainable livelihoods approach to water management encompasses a broader scope comprising people’s capabilities, assets and activities that are necessary for a means of living. It aims to enhance ‘the ability of poor people to use their assets and capabilities to make a living in conditions of greater security and sustainability’. Many activities that enhance food and livelihood security, including small-scale farming, gardening, watering livestock and micro enterprises (e.g. laundry services, and small-scale manufacturing, such as brick-making and pottery) require access to water. Water security is vital to the livelihoods of a large number of people living in poverty. Some argue that the focus of the right to water on personal and domestic uses bypasses the reality of people living in rural areas in particular, who require water for multiple uses. This raises the question as to whether such water uses are guaranteed by the human right to water or other human rights. This chapter addresses one aspect of this question through the framework of international human rights and focuses on water for food production for basic consumption, in particular, subsistence agriculture. Similar considerations are in place for other water uses, such as small-scale manufacturing or enterprises or the production of clothing. Looking at water for food production for basic consumption from the viewpoint of human rights, a number of human rights show close linkages, including the rights to food, water, health and life. The human right to food and the human right to water require more detailed consideration: water is one of the resources used in the production of food, and food is the outcome that is produced. When analysing the General Comments on food and water by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR), it becomes evident that the issue is not addressed in any significant depth.